1999: The birth of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)

Congress: 75

Shiv Sena: 69

NCP: 58

As Congress’ fortunes declined in the state, Sharad Pawar -- he had been the state’s Chief Minister thrice by then-- broke away and formed the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) protesting the appointment of an Italian origin woman, Sonia Gandhi, as the leader of the Congress. The revolt from a tall leader like Pawar and the birth of a new party under him turned the heat on in 1999.

The split worked in taking power away from the Sena-BJP combine and the Congress and the NCP came together with a post poll alliance.

This election was exciting also because it happened simultaneously with the Parliamentary polls in which the BJP-led coalition, which included the Shiv Sena, emerged as the frontrunner. Atal Behari Vajpayee was sworn in as the Prime Minister while Vilasrao Deshmukh became the Chief Minister in Maharashtra.